Padmanaban elected new GJC Chairman

Anantha Padmanaban has been elected Chairman and Shaankar Sen will be the Vice-Chairman of the apex All India Gem and Jewellery Domestic Council (GJC) for a two-year term, an official said here on Saturday.

Padmanaban, of NAC Jewellers Ltd, has been closely associated with the GJC since its inception and was instrumental in addressing burning issues like Goods and Services Tax, excise, customs duty, Prevention of Money Laundering Act, in thr recent past.

"In sync with the government policies, my first effort will be to transform and energise jewellers across India to bring more synergies within the indigenous industry, unite and strive towards achieving the GJC's goal of 'One Industry One Voice'," said Padmanaban on his taking over.

He added that he would work to inspire many more jewellers and their associations to further organise themselves to project a unified approach to policy changes and tackle contentious issues like the banking sector's reluctance to provide loans for the gem and jeweller industry.

Senco Groups' Sen, who will be the new GJC Vice-Chairman is known for his benchmark creations in gold, silver and fashion jewellery reflecting excellence in design and artistry.

The e-voting saw the elections of Mohanlal Jain and S. Abdul Nazar in the board of directors from South, Nilesh Shobhawat from West and Kamal Singhania from East.

Shaankar Sen will be Zonal Chairman East, Ashish Pethe is Zonal Chairman West, Anantha Padmanaban to be Zonal Chairman South. Avinash Gupta and Madan Kothari were elected to the board of directors unopposed in their respective zones/panels.

The GJC represents over six lakh players comprising manufacturers, wholesellers, retailers, distributors, laboratories, gemmologists, designers and allied services to the domestic gems and jewellery industry.

Outgoing GJC Chairman Nitin Khandelwal said that in the past couple of years, the organisation has worked as a custodian of the industry by taking up issues of GST, PMLA, hallmarking, initiated state-of-the-art programmes like Manthan to churn intelligence within the industry and organised Labham knowledge seminars on various subjects at more than 45 locations.

--IANS

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